School: Roanoke City Public Schools
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How did you connect with this job
opportunity?
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What attracted you to this
position?
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What are the most gratifying
aspects of your job?
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What has been/was your biggest
challenge as a first-year teacher?
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How did your time at GCC prepare
you for the teaching field?
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What advice would you give to a
current pre-service teacher in order to better prepare for his or her future
classroom?
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What job search tips would you
give to GCC students?
I had the opportunity to interview with the Math Instructional
Coordinator for Roanoke City Public Schools at the 2011 PERC job fair
(Go to the job fair!). She sold me on the idea of relocating in the
south and teaching in an urban school district so I applied and
ultimately got the job!
I wanted to teach in a challenging environment where I could grow the
most as a teacher and a person. The students in the district come from
very broken, poor homes and learning is not their top priorities when it
comes to education. The students come to school looking for attention
and adult figures to care about them. I knew teaching in Roanoke would
give me the opportunity to have an impact on students both educationally
and socially.
Some of my most challenging students have also given me the most
rewarding moments of the year. The process of building the relationship
with the students and working with them to improve their grades and
behavior in class is a great feeling.
I initially struggled effectively managing some of my classes with
rougher students in it. College classes and student teaching does not
prepare you for some of the crazy situations that are thrown at you on a
daily basis. Every day is a learning experience and I learned being
consistent with the expectations and consequences was the best way to
run a classroom.
